Humid days turn into humid nights in the South. Whether it's Appalachia, the Texas panhandle, the Louisiana bayou, or coastal South Carolina, these destinations make for perfect television. Nothing pays tribute to these misunderstood environs quite like Southern Gothic TV series.
Fans of disturbing, eerie tales that focus on flawed characters who endure sinister circumstances won't be disappointed by recent shows set all over the South. Beyond Ozark, True Detective, or True Blood, there are quite a few new Southern Gothic shows that have unfortunately fallen under the radar despite receiving widespread critical acclaim from writers and fans alike.
P-Valley (2020 - Present)
P-Valley is an audacious, stylish neo-noir drama centered around sex workers who dance at a Mississippi night club called The Pynk. With its dim, neon-filled shots of The Pynk and its deep dives into the lives of the women employed there, P-Valley is a TV milestone.
Instead of objectifying its characters, P-Valley shows how they all come together to form their own chosen family. The Starz series was met with universal acclaim from critics, and it has since been renewed for a second season.
The Righteous Gemstones (2019 - Present)
Danny McBride returned to HBO with his unique brand of Southern-fried humor in The Righteous Gemstones. Filmed in Charleston, South Carolina, The Righteous Gemstones follows a family of televangelists and megachurch pastors who become embroiled in a major scandal.
McBride plays Jesse Gemstone, who vies for his father Eli's attention alongside his envious siblings. John Goodman co-stars as Eli, and talented comedic actors like Walton Goggins, Adam DeVine, and Edi Patterson round out the cast.
Outcast (2016 - 2018)
Robert Kirkman, the comic book writer behind The Walking Dead, is also responsible for the short-lived Outcast. An intoxicating blend of Southern Gothic and horror, Outcast stars Patrick Fugit as Kyle Barnes, a young man whose life has been upturned by demonic possession.
This Cinemax thriller takes Satanic panic and the occult into murkier, more character-driven territory than similar series. Fugit's performance is supported by an ensemble cast including Philip Glenister, Wrenn Schmidt, Kate Lyn Sheil, and David Denman.
Good Behavior (2016 - 2017)
In Good Behavior, the classic femme fatale narrative is transformed into a layered portrayal of a Southern gal on a self-destructive path. Michelle Dockery plays Letty Raines, a convicted felon and con artist who jumps right back into her life of crime after being released from prison.
Shot on location in North Carolina, Good Behavior follows Letty as she becomes involved with a professional hitman Javier. TNT canceled Good Behavior after two seasons, despite its reputation for being a taut, sexy thriller.
Sharp Objects (2018)
HBO's miniseries Sharp Objects is an adaptation of Gillian Flynn's haunting debut novel of the same name. Amy Adams stars as reporter Camille Preaker, who returns to her hometown in Missouri to look into the murders of two girls.
Camille, fresh out of a stint in a psychiatric hospital, confronts her own past demons while digging into the brutal crimes. Sharp Objects features a large ensemble cast including Patricia Clarkson, Chris Messina, and Eliza Scanlen.
Cloak & Dagger (2016 - 2018)
Even though it's a Marvel superhero series, Cloak & Dagger is saturated with Southern Gothic elements. Olivia Holt plays Dagger, and Aubrey Joseph co-stars as Cloak. These teenagers, connected by a tragedy from their childhoods, realize their superpowers are enhanced when they team up.
Gritty and intense, Cloak & Dagger sets the standard for breaking boundaries in the MCU. After running for two seasons, the series ended and the characters later showed up in the third season of Runaways.
Queen Sugar (2016 - Present)
Executive produced by both Ava DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey, Queen Sugar is a well-acted and well-written series that seeks to tackle the long-term effects of chattel slavery on American history and families. Set in rural Louisiana, it tells the story of three siblings who reunite on their family's sugarcane farm upon their father's unexpected death.
The siblings are played by Rutina Wesley, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, and Kofi Siriboe. As they figure out what to do with the 800-acre estate, the show's subplots explore themes like racial profiling and inequities within the criminal justice system.
Hap And Leonard (2016 - 2018)
SundanceTV aired Hap and Leonard for three seasons, which is based on the novels by Joe R. Lansdale. James Purefoy and Michael Kenneth Williams play Hap and Leonard, a pair of amateur sleuths who stir up trouble in East Texas.
Part alt-Western, part Southern Gothic, Hap and Leonard is a spunky dark comedy driven by stellar performances from Purefoy and Williams. The show also stars Jimmi Simpson and Christina Hendricks.
On Becoming a God in Central Florida (2019)
On Becoming a God in Central Florida is a one-of-a-kind scathing comedy about a young woman who gets wrapped up in a popular pyramid scheme while trying to keep her family afloat. Kirsten Dunst is hilarious as Krystal Stubbs, a working-class mom who schemes her way up the ladder at Founders American Merchandise.
Beneath all the sunshine, palm trees, and glistening tan skin, On Becoming a God in Central Florida is one of the best Southern Gothic series to come along in decades. Unfortunately, Showtime canceled the show's planned second season because of Covid-19.
Southern Gothic (2020 - Present)
Fans of true-crime series set in the South will love Southern Gothic, a new venture from Investigation Discovery. Each of its six episodes relies on reenactments to examine the details of heinous crimes and murders.
From Tennessee to Alabama to Louisiana, Southern Gothic digs into the darker real-life stories that continue to haunt small towns. It also includes interviews with investigators and loved ones close to the crimes.